BROTHERS THROUGH BOXING: IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND FRIENDSHIP

Brothers Through Boxing

At Boxing Futures we run a number of highly impactful programmes which have been designed to help young people in our local communities who are excluded in one way or another.

Our groundbreaking Brothers Through Boxing programme is a Social Innovators Challenge Project and is funded by the Movember Foundation. The foundation supports innovative services which foster and encourage relationships between men, to strengthen their sense of belonging and to improve mental wellbeing. Sport is an important activity which encourages men to connect with each other and this is why the Boxing Futures approach has proved so successful.

The objectives of the programme

Brothers Through Boxing is a peer-led non-contact Boxercise and general fitness programme which helps young males to increase social connections, improve wellbeing and avoid male isolation and loneliness.

16-25 year olds who are NEETS (Not in employment, education or training) often lack social connections and can become isolated.

The programme aims to create a community of friends who help and support each other and who can leave training sessions feeling safer and with a feeling of pride.

Participants are encouraged to reach out for help when needed and create strong male relationships which provide support when times are tough. Ultimately the aim is to help males to live longer and happier lives.

People on the programme are reached by existing local referral pathways where we operate in Peterborough, Cambridge and Bedford.

What’s involved

Each Brothers Through Boxing programme lasts 6 months. The group of around 12 young people works together to achieve their bronze award in Boxercise.

The purpose is to create common ground where new friendships can be developed.

Upon completion the ‘brothers’ join an alumni group to work towards their silver and gold Boxercise award. They also continue to develop relationships and to help new people coming onto the first stage of the programme.

Why it works

Brothers Through Boxing is a programme which really works, for a number of important reasons:

The programme is peer-led. It is run by peer committees which are rolling and change every three months so everyone has the opportunity to have their say, and everyone experiences ownership and responsibility.

Committees arrange monthly social events to help support and foster the established friendships.

Facilitated and peer led discussions are encouraged. The programme encourages young males to reach out to each other during times of change. Mutual support can help to prevent potential mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Every participant receives a ‘Road to Resurgence’ toolkit/handbook which helps him to measure his own individual progress throughout the course of the programme.

The networks and experience that are created on the programme are designed to last a long time and will ultimately help participants to find new opportunities in employment, training and volunteering.